There’s not often exciting auto news coming out of the Netherlands, but there is one boutique company, Donkervoort, that is currently building the only existing Dutch sports car…
Donkervoort F22
Engine: 2.5 L inline 5 turbo
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Power: 367 kW
Torque: 472 lb-ft @ 5150 rpm
Top Speed: 290 km/h
0-100 km/h: 2.5 seconds
Price: $384,000
Known as the Donkervoort F22, it’s nothing short of a savage supercar slaying go-kart.
The F22 is entirely developed in-house and not a single nut or bolt is interchangeable with previous builds. Like their previous lovechild, the D8 GTO, the F22 appears to be some extreme version of a Caterham Seven, with swept-back headlights and twin hood vents. In addition, the rear diffuser and taillights look like they were taken off a Maserati MC20.
To say the interior is sparce and compact is a major understatement. Two thin carbon fibre bucket seats with Alcantara padding and racing harnesses hold you in place shoulder-to-shoulder with your passenger, so make sure you’re friendly and don’t have bad breath. In between the two seats is a centre console with the start/stop switch, and knobs for the damping and traction control.
The real headline is under the hood though, where the Audi-sourced 2.5 litre turbo five cylinder releases a healthy 367 kW and 472 pound-feet of torque. That’s on par with the 3.0 litre S58 straight six from a BMW M3 Competition – which is a good thing.
Tipping the scales at 750 kilograms, the power-to-weight ratio here is just over 3.3 pounds per horsepower – 0.4 pounds per horsepower more than a Bugatti Chiron. Impressed yet? It also screams to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds onto a top speed of 289 km/h.
Donkervoort will build only 75 examples of the F22 with a chunky base price of $384,000. A lot of coin, but in return, you get a beast that will hunt down everything you put it up against – edging dangerously close to hypercar territory.
By Bill Vartimetis
For the full article grab the October 2023 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
